Sterling Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in PITTSBORO, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $476K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 21 grants totaling $148K. Net investment income was $27K.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$476K
-13.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$148K
+272.4% YoY
Grant Count
21
+50.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
+148.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sterling Foundation reported a distributable amount of $27K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About Sterling Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Sterling Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in PITTSBORO, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $476K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 21 grants totaling $148K. Net investment income was $27K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $476,356 | $550,572 | $534,771 |
| Revenue | $121,935 | $109,628 | $132,463 |
| Expenses | $163,644 | $51,801 | $42,090 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $163,644 | $51,801 | $42,090 |
| Net Investment Income | $27,302 | $17,628 | $122,373 |
| Distributable Amount | $27,307 | $24,686 | $23,577 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
59 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Camp Linn Haven ($53,200), Mountainside Lutheran Church ($50,000), SportsQuest ($8,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Concordia Theological Seminary St Louis, MO | Donation | $4,000 |
| SportsQuest Cypress, TX | Donation | $8,000 |
| Reaching Avery Ministries Newland, NC | Donation | $3,000 |
| African Inland Mission Peachtree City, GA | Donation | $6,000 |
| Camp Linn Haven Conover, NC | Donation | $53,200 |
| Mountainside Lutheran Church Linville, NC | Donation | $50,000 |
| CoreLuv Willis, TX | Donation | $2,000 |
| LINC Houston Houston, TX | Donation | $1,000 |
| Crossnore Communities Crossnore, NC | Donation | $2,000 |
| Compassion International Colorado Springs, CO | Donation | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Robinson | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Esther Robinson | Trustee | 0.5 | — |
| Rachel Hahn | Trustee | 0.5 | — |
| Sarah Barbera | Trustee | 0.5 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sterling Foundation?
Sterling Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in PITTSBORO, NC. It holds $476K in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Sterling Foundation?
As of 2024, Sterling Foundation holds $476K in total assets with $122K in annual revenue. It awarded 21 grants totaling $148K in 2024.
Where does Sterling Foundation operate?
Sterling Foundation has awarded grants in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington.
What size grants does Sterling Foundation award?
In 2024, Sterling Foundation awarded 21 grants totaling $148K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Sterling Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Sterling Foundation reported a distributable amount of $27K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Sterling Foundation's EIN?
Sterling Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 32-6432105. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sterling Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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